The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) is seeking to commence an initiative to reconstruct a single family home in Waimānalo, targeting a native Hawaiian family who were the unfortunate victims of a house fire. Dubbed the 41-252 Nakini Single Family Home Reconstruction project, plans are set to demolish unusable foundations and defunct infrastructure that linger from the previous structure, and build a new home on the original site.
With an estimated budget of around $500,000, the project's scope includes not just the erection of a new dwelling but also the revamp of various utilities such as electrical and water systems, along with the replacement and repair of communication and stormwater systems. The funding for this venture is anticipated to be secured through Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant funds, available under Title VIII – Housing Assistance for Native Hawaiians, which falls under the scope of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA).
A key facet of this undertaking is its exemption from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, deemed categorically excluded under HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58. An Environmental Review Record (ERR) pertinent to this decision can be publicly accessed, according to a notice published by the DHHL. This documentation is available on the HUD Exchange website, offering individuals a chance to view or download its contents.
Public feedback is being solicited before this plan moves forward. Any comments must be submitted by October 30, 2025, to be considered by the DHHL, with details on how to do so provided in the aforementioned notice. The department emphasizes the importance of community input, which may be directed to the office of the Chairperson, or emailed directly to the project consultant, PBR HAWAII & Associates, Inc.
DHHL Chairperson Kali Watson is set to take the legal reins as the Certifying Officer, pledging compliance with the environmental review process with HUD. The submission for funding release to HUD, scheduled for approximately October 31, 2025, will welcome objections for a 15-day period thereafter, but only on specific procedural grounds related to breach of HUD regulations or unauthorized preliminary actions. Interested parties seeking further clarification on these conditions can directly reach out to the HUD Honolulu Field Office.
